Zimbabwe tense as trial reopens

Opposition leader's trial has become the focus of unrest

The trial of Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has resumed, against a background of widening political and economic tensions in the country.

Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, has been charged with plotting to assassinate President Mugabe before presidential elections last year.

He denies the charges, alleging he was framed by the government.

A two-month recess in the trial has been marked by continued unrest in the country.

The MDC staged a widely-supported general strike in March to protest alleged misgovernance, and then supported a second strike called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions last month.

That strike was called to protest a rise in petrol prices of more than 200%.

Mr Tsvangirai and the MDC have warned there will be further strikes.

Rigged poll allegation

The MDC has been placing full-page advertisements in the press stating: "The will of the people shall prevail".

The opposition leader has however said he is willing to meet President Mugabe and the ruling party to chart a way out of Zimbabwe's political problems.

Last week, three African leaders - Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Bakili Muluzi of Malawi - went to Harare for talks to try to break the political deadlock.

President Mugabe said that Mr Tsvangirai must accept him as president before any inter-party talks could resume, something the opposition leader refuses to do - he claims the presidential poll last year was rigged.

At a rally on Sunday in the country's second city of Bulawayo, Mr Tsvangirai urged thousands of supporters to take to the streets in support of his demand for fresh elections.

"What the MDC wants to do is for people to go on the streets in numbers. And if we go on the streets Mugabe will know it's over for him," Mr Tsvangirai said.

Police evidence

As the trial resumes, evidence is expected from policemen involved in investigating the alleged treason plot.

The charges arise from a barely audible video tape of a meeting Mr Tsvangirai held with a controversial Canadian political consultant, Ari Ben-Menashe, who alleges that Mr Tsvangirai asked him for help to "eliminate" President Mugabe.

Lawyers argue that the consultant deliberately tried to entrap the opposition leader.

The tape was recorded just before Mr Ben-Menashe's firm signed a consultancy contract with the Zimbabwe Government.

Mr Ben-Menashe has admitted he taped the meeting solely to get evidence for the government but denied entrapping Mr Tsvangirai.